Submerged solenoid operated pump



`Yam. 6, 1953 P. H. BILLS `:5T A1.

SUBMERGED SOLENOID OPERATED PUMP Filed May 4, v195o 2 SHEETS--SHEET l .A lj "1" 292/.

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Patented Jan. 6, 1953 SUBMERGED SOLENOID OPERATED PUMP Philip H. Bills,ALongmeadow, Joseph Af Logan, Hadley, andTheodore J.y Mesh, Easthampton, Mass., assignors'to Gilbert &'Barker Iianui'ac-Y turing Company, Westr Springfield, Mass.,. al corporation of Massachusetts Application May 4, 1950," Serial No.Y 159,904l

2 Claims.V

This invention relates to imygirovernentsv in lubricant-serving apparatus, such for example, as may be effectively used in the servicing. of automotive vehicles for the purposeof forcing lubricant from a container under `high pressure to the various grease ttings of the vehicle.r

The invention has for one object the provision, in an apparatus of the class described, of'an electromagnetically-operated reciprocating-piston pump adapted to be immersed in the lubricant in a lubricant container so that the-heat produced by energization ofthe electromagnets, maybe utilized to' warm the greasein the-con'- tainer and facilitate flow of such grease into vthe pump.v

The invention has for another lobject the Aprovision, in an apparatus of the class described, of a' casing, containing the electromagnets and pump, with a conduit for the electrical supply wires for the electromagnets and a delivery conduit receiving the discharge from thepump, both conduits being fixed to the casing and extending upwardly far enough to pass out of the lubricant container, when the pump is immersed in the lubricant in such container, at least one such` conduit preferably being rigid, whereby it may be used asa handle to plunge the casing into and through lubricant in the container' or to lift thecasing out of the' container.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the class described,l apressure-limiting safety control for stopping' the pump, whenever the lubricant has been placed under a selected predetermined pressure.

A further object of the invention is tofY provide, in apparatus of the class described, means for automatically opening the circuit to the `electroma'gnets of the pump to stopth'e latter, whenever the operator hangs up the dispensinghose,

A further object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of the class described, provisions for temporarily'preventing the pressure-limiting meansfrom functioning to stop the pump,v so thatthe pump may be operated to produce pressures higher than the selected predetermined pressure for a short period, as for example, for the purposeof opening'a plugged passagein a lubrication fitting on the automotive vehicle'being serviced.

A further object of the invention is to pro'- vide, in an apparatus of the class described, means for temporarily preventingv the pressurelimiting means from functioning to open the circuit to the electromagnets of the pump so that heatfrom the jelectromagnets'can be vutilized to 2 warm the lubricant in the container prior to servicing work, as for example in starting up in-cold weather, and before the nozzle of the dispensing hose is opened.

These 4'and other objects will more particularly appear from the` following description of one illustrativeY example of the inventionv and detailed variations thereof, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l isY a' sectional elevational view of a lubricant serving apparatus, embodying the invention, shownfin operative position in' a lubricant container Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-'2 of Fig. l;

Fig.A 3 is asectional elevational view of the electromagnetically-actuated reciprocating-piston -pumpf drawn to a largervscale;

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections of the apparatus;

Figs. 5 vand 6 are fragmentary sectional plan and sectional elevational views, respectively, showing a modiiication; and

Fig. '7 is a view taken similarly'to Fig. Band showing. another.v modification.

Referring. to'these drawings, and first -toFig 1 thereof, there -is shown'a container I, adapted to contain lubricant 2, and having anopening Sin its top rwall 4, through which openingthe lubricant-serving apparatus of this invention may fbeinserted into the Ycontainer and immersed inthe :lubricant contained therein. The particular container shown is a drum, adapted to containgrease, such for example, as that used for .servicingthe grease fittings -of an automobile. This-particular drum has a relatively-small central cover, which is removed to provide the opening described. However, the size, shape and location of the opening in grease-'drums varyfwidely, and in some cases even the entire topwall is removabla'and the invention is generally applicableto vall such drums and-not limited to the one particular form shown.

The` lubricant-dispensing pump is contained `in a casing i5, which issuspended by at least one,

and -preferably both, of a pair of'conduts G--and 1 from a suitable supporting member 8. This support is adapted to overlie Vthe opening 3 in the `lubricant container I. It will vary accordingto circumstances. In some cases, the-supporting member may rest directly on thetop 4 of thefcontainer as shown. In vother cases the supporting. member maybe otherwise supported and merely. overlie the opening, particularly Wherethe lubricant container isplaced inside a cabinet, which frequently has slidably mounted grease-pump-supporting members adapted to be raised and lowered. As herein shown, the support 8, with the casing 5 suspended therefrom, is manually raised and lowered without any guiding means provided for the purpose. It is first raised high enough to position the casing 5 above opening 3 and then lowered to allow the casing to sink in the grease or be thrust therein if necessary. The casing is positioned in the bottom of the container I and the support 8 then rests on top of the wall 4 of the container. The conduits 6 and 'I are respectively for electrical wires and the discharge of lubricant. They are shown as rigid conduits, each suitably fixed at its upper and lower ends to the supporting member 3 and casing 5, respectively, although this is not necessarily essential in all cases.

The pump is of the electromagnetically-operated, reciprocating-piston type. It is shown in detail in Fig. 3. The casing 5 includes a hollow cylindrical shell 9 and upper and lower heads I0 and II, respectively xed in and closing the upper and lower ends of the shell. Fixed in the shell 9 midway between the heads is an annular ringV I2. Fixed centrally to the heads I and II are cores I3 and I4, respectively, which extend .coaxially of shell 9 toward one another and toward ring I2 but terminate short of such ring. Mounted on cores I3 and I4 are solenoid co-ils I5 and I6, respectively, which fill the space between ring I2 and the upper and lower heads respectively. The shell 9, heads I0 and II, ring I2 and cores I3 and I4 are of any suitable magnetic material. A tube Il, of non-magnetic material, tightly ts at its ends on the cores I3 and I4 and spans the space between them. An

armature I8 of magnetic material is slidably mounted in and guided by tube Il'. Fixed at one end to armature I8 is a piston rod I9, which is slidably mounted in core I4 and has its lower end extending into a pump cylinder 20, formed in the lower end of core I4. The lower end of core I4 lts into a seat in head Il. In this head and core, an inlet passage 2| is provided to con- .nect the upper end of cylinder with the interior of container I. Outlet passages 22 and 23 are also provided in core I4 and head II. The lower end of passage 22 is closed by a plug 24, which also serves as a seat for a spring 25, tending to hold closed a ball outlet valve 26 in the upper end of passage 22. The delivery conduit 'I is threaded into the head II and communicates with the outer end of passage 23, the inner end of which communicates with passage 22. A spring 21, housed in part in core I3 and in part in armature I8, tends to hold the armature in its mid position, as shown, and piston I9 midway in its stroke in cylinder 20.

The armature I8 has openings 28 therethrough to allow free passage of fluid from one end to the other. In the event that grease should leak past the piston and enter the space within tube Il, it can pass through the holes 28 in the armature and into a vent passage 29 in core I3. This passage is connected to a suitable vent pipe 30, which extends upwardly in the lubricant container as shown in Fig. 1.

The solenoid coils I5 and I6 are connected to an alternating current supply circuit, say for example, to a 110 volt, 60 cycle supply, through suitable rectiers 3l and 32, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the solenoids are alternately energized. Thus, the armature I8 and piston I9 may be reciprocated at the frequency of the alternating current, as 3600 times a minute. One terminal of coil I5 is connected by a wire 33 to one terminal of rectiiier 3I and one terminal of coil I3 is connected by a wire 34 to one terminal of rectier 32. rIhe other terminals of both rectiers are connected together and to a wire 35, which is adapted for connection, through suitable switches to be later described, to one side of the alternating current supply. The other side of such supply is connected by a wire 33 to the Iother terminals of both coils I5 and I5.

The wires 33, 34 and 35 extend through the conduit 9, the upper end of which extends through support 8 and is suitably fastened thereto, as by nuts 31. The support as shown in Fig. 2, is circular. From it upstand four posts 38, 39, 40 and 4I to the upper ends of which are integrally connected another circular member 42. Tw-o semi-cylindrical sheet-metal casing parts 43, secured to posts 39 and 4I, enclose the space between the members 8 `and 42. The rectiers 3| and 32 are contained in va case 44 which may be secured to the bottom of member 42. The post 39 supports a receptacle 45, into which a suitable plug, connected to the alternating current source, may be inserted.

The member 8, in the particular form herein shown, has a cored passage 45 therein, to which `the upper end of delivery conduit 'I is connected. This passage extends horizontally to the left and right of its junction with conduit 'I and its right hand branch extends upwardly in post 4I, connecting with -the inner end of a rigid horizontallydisposed outlet pipe 47, to the outer end of which one end of a flexible hose 48 is connected. The other end of hose 48 carries a suitable nozzle 49, having the usual valve, which is spring-closed and can be opened by manual pressure on a lever 59. The outlet end of nozzle 49 carries a. suitable coupling 5I for engagement with the grease fittings on the automotive vehicle.

The nozzle 49 may Abe supported, when not in use, by a support 52 which is pivoted at 53 to lugs on member 42. A spring 54 tends to swing the support 52 counterclockwise as far as permitted by the engagement o1" a stop 55 with member 42. The nozzle 49, when placed on support 52, swings the latter clockwise into the illustrated position, thereby depressing the button 53 of a switch 57 to open the same. This switch is of the type, which is closed except when its button 56 is depressed. Consequently, when the operator lifts the nozzle 49 from support 52, switch 5l will automatically close. This switch is indicated in the diagram of Fig. 4.

The left hand branch of the cored passage 46 is connected to a suitable pressure-relief valve 58, which may be set to open at some suitable predetermined maximum pressure, say for example, 5000 p. s. i. Such branch is also connected to a suitable switch 59, which is normally closed but which opens in response tosaid predetermined pressure. This switch may, for example, be of the Bourdon tube type, as indicated in Fig. 4. The Bourdon tube 60 swings to the left in response to increase in grease pressure and moves a nger 6I over a contact 62. When the selected predetermined pressure is reached, the nger 6I will move oi the left hand end of the contact 62 andv thus open. A supply wire 63 leads from receptacle 45 to nger 6I and a wire 64 connects contact 62 to one terminal of switch 5l, the other Iterminal of which is connected to wire 35.

Interposed in the passage 46 between conduit 1? and the pressure-safety devices 58-and'l591is af'y valve 65,l which is :normally open as shown; If this valve is closed, then the-fpressure-safety devices will be prevented from acting in response to grease pressure. This may at times be desirable for short periods, as for example, when a plugged grease fitting is encountered and -it is desi-red to apply to such fitting-pressures in vexcess ofthe above-named predetermined pressure: The valve 65 has anactuating lever 66 (Fig. 2) and a spring 61, which connects this lever to a pinta on member 8,- holds the'valve in=open position. The lever B6 is connected by a flexible Wirey 69- toy the'hose-48. This wire passes throughy a grommet in casing 43' so that if the operator pulls on the hose either forwardly orto the right orleft, thecwire will be pulled to close valveV 65and thus enablev higher pressure to be secured for the purpose described. However, the operator mustmaintain a `pull on the hose Yto lget the higher pressure and as soon as he relaxes hispul'L valve 65 opens.

In Figs. l and2, there has been indicated a switch 1l, mountedon post 49 with its actuating push buttons '12V projecting through the post and outside the casing 43. This switch is provided so that the operator may disable the pressurelimiting devices, when it is desired to warm up the grease in container I preliminary to a servicing operation of the pump; This switc`rias will be clear from Fig.' 4, is bridged across the terminals of the Ypressure'-limitin'g switch 6l as by having its terminals respectively connected bywires 13 and 14'to the wires '64 and 63. Thus, ifon a cold morning, the grease 2 in container llneeds warming up, before the apparatus is used for automotive servicing, the. operator may press on one of the buttons 12 to close switch 1i and then, as soon as he lifts the nozzle 49 from its movable support 52, the solenoids I5 and I6 will be energized and the heat therefrom will warm the grease. Of course, if a relief valve 5B is provided, as shown, it will open as soon as the pressure limit has been reached, and the pump will operate, causing grease to iiow out into the container. If this valve is omitted, as it may be as shown in Fig. 6, and sole reliance is placed on the pressure-limiting switch 59, then the pump will not operate because there is no outlet for the grease and the pump piston will stall at whatever pressure can be produced by the power applied to the solenoid coils. However, the heat from these coils will be utilized to warm the grease and facilitate flow thereof into the inlet of the pump. As soon as the grease has been warmed sufliciently, the other button 12 of switch 1l may be pressed to open the switch and thus open the shunt around the pressure-limiting switch 6|, allowing the latter again to be operative.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification. The pressure relief valve 58 and the disabling valve 65 have been omitted. The pressure switch 59 has been retained and this is arranged to be disabled by pulling on the hose 48, the wire 69 operating the arm 15 of a switch 16. This arm 15 is connected by a spring 11 to a pin 18 on support 8 and this spring tends to hold arm 15 in the position in which the switch is open. However, a pull on hose `48 will close switch 16 and this switch, which is connected in the circuit in the same way as the described switch 1l, will close a shunt around the pressure switch and prevent the same from opening at the selected predetermined pressure.

Fig. 7 shows kanother:modification linwhich 'the pressure relief valve 58 .is iusedand the: pressure switch 59 is omitted." The valve 65 isemployed, as before, being actuated by a pull on hose 48 to closed position so that valve 58 is cut off from the pump, whereby the pump may produce pressures .above the selected predetermined pressure at which valve v58 isset .to open', up tothe prese sure at .which the pump stalls.

The operation will. be clear from the Aforegoing description'.v The solenoid coils will be energized by the removal of nozzle 49 from -its support. If a relief valve, such as.58, isem ployed, that will open at the selected predeterf mined pressure and the pumpv will operate, bypassing grease until the valve in the .greasefnozzle 49 is opened. If the relief valve is not .em. ployed, the switch 59 will immediately open and the apparatus will be stoppedunti'l the .operator opens the valve in the grease nozzle. However, the solenoid coils'may be `kept incircuit to initially warm the grease before servicing, by closing switch 1 I, or if desired by closing the equivalent switch 15 by pulling on the hose. Servieing is effected in the usual way, the operator pressing the coupling 5| against the fitting to be serviced of the automotive vehicle and then opening the nozzle valve by pressure on lever 50. Operation of the pump then ensues to dis pense grease until this valve` isclosed. Then, the'pump may stop if no relief valve is provided or if'such a-Y valve isprovided, the pump may continue to operate by by-passing the pumped grease back into the container l. In case, during servicing, it is necessary for the pump to produce a pressure greater than that at which the pressure-limiting devices are setto operate, this can be effected by pullingon the hosewhich will temporarily disable such devices.

The solenoids of the* pump, whenever energized, function to raise the temperatureof vthe grease and thus lower` its viscosity,` whereby-'flow of thegrease into the inlet ofthe; pump is "facilitated. While the heat exchange between the solenoids and grease is most useful in warming lup the grease preliminary to grease servicing work, the heat exchange is effective, whenever the solenoids are energized, and is always useful.

The solenoid-operated pump produces an impact upon each body of grease drawn into the cylinder. These impacts occur at high frequency and the desirable high pressures for grease servicing can be readily obtained.

Thus, we have provided an improved lubricantserving apparatus desirable for use in servicing the grease iittings of automotive vehicles. Such apparatus is characterized by an electromagnetically-operated reciprocating piston pump adapted to be immersed in the lubricant and effective to produce the high pressures required for the type of work described and to effect a desirable heat exchange with the lubricant. The invention also provides operating and safety controls desirable and useful in an apparatus of the type described.

What is claimed is:

l. In a lubricant serving apparatus, a casing comprising a tube and upper and lower heads closing the ends of 'the tube, upper and lower cores in the tube coaxial therewith and fixed one to each head, said cores extending toward one another but terminating with their adjacent ends in axially-spaced relation, upper and lower solenoids respectively mounted on the upper and lower cores and each longer than its core, an

annular ring between the adjacent ends of the two solenoids and engaging the inner wall of the tube, there being a chamber between the adjacent ends of the two cores and within the inner peripheries of the ring and solenoids, an armature reciproeable in said chamber having passages connecting opposite ends; said tube, heads, cores, ring and armature being of magnetic material; the upper core having a, passage therethrough extending from end to end thereof, a rigid member secured to the casing and extending upwardly a substantial distance above the upper head, said casing adapted to be thrust by said member into and through lubricant in a container and positioned with its axis substantially vertical and its lower head near the bottom of the container, a vent pipe connected to the upper end of the upper core and with the passage therein and extending upwardly far enough to reach the top of the container, a foot on the lower head having therein a cylinder coaxial with the armature and inlet and outlet passages at the upper and lower ends of the cylinder, and a Valve in said outlet passage, said inlet passage being valveless and adapted to communicate directly with the container at a location closely adjacent said lower head, whereby to receive lubricant warmed by heat radiated from said solenoidsv and fiowing downwardly along the periphery of said casing.

2. A grease dispensing apparatus, comprising, a casing consisting of a tube and heads closing opposite ends of the tube, a solenoid in said casing having ends engaging one with each head, an armature for the solenoid located coaxially of said tube, a rigid member of substantial length connected at one end to one head of the casing and extending away from the same in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tube,

said casing adapted to be thrust by means of said member downwardly into and through grease in a grease container to position the casing in the latter with the axis of the tube substantially vertical and with the lower headnear the bottom of the container, a short extension from the outer face of the lower head extending downwardly close to the bottom of the container and having therein a cylinder located coaxially of said tube and solenoid, a piston in said cylinder connected to said armature to be reciprocated thereby, said extension having inlet and outlet passages for the cylinder, an outlet valve in the outlet passage, said inlet passage extending through said extension radially of said cylinder With its entrance located immediately below the outer face of said lower head and spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the head a substantial distance, whereby grease in contact with the outer face of the lower head may be warmed by heat from the solenoid conducted through the lower head to render the grease at the entrance of said inlet passage uent enough to flow by gravity into said inlet.

PHILIP H. BILLS.

JOSEPH A. LOGAN.

THEODORE J. MESH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,700,471 Davis Jan. 29, 1929 1,743,236 Redmond Jan. 14, 1930 1,775,411 Stedwell Sept. 9, 1930 1,871,989 Heitger Aug. 16, 1932 1,975,311 Creveling Oct. 2, 1934 1,990,742 Marvel Feb. 12, 1935 2,279,650 Wood Apr. 14, 1942 2,319,934 Korte May 25, 1943 2,381,650 Dick Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,291 Great Britain June 21, 1932 

